Cage reform: proposed ban on keeping laying hens, pullets and breeder layers in cages (Diwygio cewyll: gwaharddiad arfaethedig ar gadw ieir dodwy, cywennod ac ieir bridio mewn cewyll)
Overview
In 1999, conventional ‘battery’ cages for laying hens (for keepers with 350 or more birds) were banned throughout the European Union, including in the UK, but with a 12-year transition period to 1 January 2012 before the ban came into full effect. Due to the small size and barren environment, conventional ‘battery’ cages severely compromised the welfare of laying hens. However, this ban only targeted commercial scale producers and so keepers with fewer than 350 laying hens were excluded.
Whilst enriched ‘colony’ cages are an improvement on conventional ‘battery’ cages, they still do not fully provide for the physical and behavioural needs of laying hens. The enriched ‘colony’ cage system restricts choice, preventing access to the ground and other levels, and limiting the ability to run, flap wings, dustbathe or forage.
Breeder layers and pullets are not currently within scope of the cage requirements in the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007, and their Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish equivalents.
Defra, on behalf of the UK Government, the Welsh Government, the Scottish Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive, is now holding a public consultation to seek views on proposed amendments to the legislation, which are as follows:
- From 2027, a ban on the building or bringing into service for the first time any enriched ‘colony’ cage system for the keeping of laying hens (including those in establishments with fewer than 350 birds) and any other caged systems used for pullets and breeder layers;
- From 2027, a ban on the use of existing conventional ‘battery’ cages for the keeping of laying hens in establishments with fewer than 350 birds; and
- From 2032, a ban on the use of existing enriched ‘colony’ cages for the keeping of laying hens (including those in establishments with fewer than 350 birds) and any other caged systems used for pullets and breeder layers.
The consultation will also seek to collect practical and logistical information from relevant stakeholders.
Ym 1999, cafodd cewyll 'batri' confensiynol ar gyfer ieir dodwy (ar gyfer ceidwaid â 350 neu fwy o adar) eu gwahardd ledled yr Undeb Ewropeaidd (UE), gan gynnwys yn y Deyrnas Unedig (DU), ond gyda chyfnod pontio o 12 mlynedd hyd at 1 Ionawr 2012 cyn i'r gwaharddiad ddod i rym yn llawn. Oherwydd bod yr amgylchedd yn fach ac yn ddiffrwyth, roedd cewyll 'batri' confensiynol yn effeithio'n ddifrifol ar les ieir dodwy. Fodd bynnag, roedd y gwaharddiad hwn ond yn targedu cynhyrchwyr ar raddfa fasnachol ac felly cafodd ceidwaid â llai na 350 o ieir dodwy eu heithrio.
Er bod cewyll 'nythfa' wedi'u cyfoethogi yn well na chewyll 'batri' confensiynol, nid ydynt yn darparu'n llawn o hyd ar gyfer anghenion corfforol ac ymddygiadol ieir dodwy. Mae cewyll 'nythfa' wedi'u cyfoethogi yn cyfyngu ar ddewis, yn atal mynediad i'r ddaear a lefelau eraill, ac yn cyfyngu ar y gallu i redeg, curo adenydd, ymolchi yn y llwch a fforio.
Nid yw ieir bridio a cywennod, ar hyn o bryd o fewn cwmpas y gofynion cewyll yn The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007, a'r hyn sy'n cyfateb iddynt yng Nghymru, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon.
Mae DEFRA, ar ran Llywodraeth y DU, Llywodraeth Cymru, Llywodraeth yr Alban a Gweithrediaeth Gogledd Iwerddon, nawr yn cynnal ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus i geisio barn ar ddiwygiadau arfaethedig i'r ddeddfwriaeth, sydd fel a ganlyn:
- O 2027 ymlaen, gwahardd adeiladu neu roi ar waith am y tro cyntaf unrhyw gewyll 'nythfa' wedi'u cyfoethogi ar gyfer cadw ieir dodwy (gan gynnwys y rheini mewn sefydliadau sydd â llai na 350 o adar) ac unrhyw systemau cewyll eraill a ddefnyddir ar gyfer cywennod ac ieir bridio;
- O 2027 ymlaen, gwaharddiad ar ddefnyddio cewyll 'batri' confensiynol presennol ar gyfer cadw ieir dodwy mewn sefydliadau sydd â llai na 350 o adar; ac
- O 2032 ymlaen, gwaharddiad ar ddefnyddio cewyll 'nythfa' wedi'u cyfoethogi ar gyfer cadw ieir dodwy (gan gynnwys y rheini mewn sefydliadau sydd â llai na 350 o adar) ac unrhyw systemau cewyll eraill a ddefnyddir ar gyfer cywennod ac ieir bridio.
Yn ogystal, bydd yr ymgynghoriad yn casglu gwybodaeth ymarferol a logistaidd gan randdeiliaid perthnasol.
Audiences
- Animal welfare campaigners
- Devolved Administrations
- Farmers
- Food Business Operators
- Food Industry
- Licensed Gangmasters
- Non-Government Organisation
- Policy Teams
- Tenant Farmers
- Trade Unions
- Veterinarians
- Vets
Interests
- Consultation
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